Land West of Main Avenue Culham Science Centre, Near Clifton Hampden, Oxfordshire: An Archaeological Watching Brief

The ground reduction works were carried out by removing deposits in horizontal spits with a 22 ton 360 excavator, equipped with a flat-bladed. The archaeologists were positioned outside the working area of the mechanical excavator and when access was required, the machine ceased operations. 6.4 The groundworks involved soil stripping in an area of about 0.0065 ha. 6.5 Below-ground works were monitored by the above mentioned attendant archaeologists (6.2). In the event that significant below-ground archaeology was encountered, work was to be temporarily halted so that the remains could be investigated to determine and record their extent and character. The Site was split into four areas (A1, A2, A3 & A4), one of which (A3) was not subjected to groundworks at the time of the watching brief. Archaeological features or artefacts were not recorded in Areas 1 and 2, whereas the soil stripping in Area 4 exposed a possible feature that was investigated and dated to the post-medieval period through ceramic building material (CBM) found in situ. A future investigation may be required if work continues within Area 3 of the Site.